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Lopez wins President's Award for journalism excellence

Consuelo Lopez, of California Baptist University, was named the recipient of the 2002 President's Award for Student Journalism. Her advisor, Jeremy Hansen, accepted the award on her behalf. Pictured above are Hansen and SBC Executive Committee President and Chief Executive Officer Morris H. Chapman. by James Bates

by James Bates

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Consuelo Luisa Lopez, a student at California Baptist University and editor-in-chief of the CBU Banner, was announced Oct. 12 as the winner of the 2002 President's Award for Excellence in Student Journalism.

Morris H. Chapman, president and chief executive officer of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, announced Lopez's award at the Baptist Press Student Journalism Conference banquet at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn.

Jeremy Hansen, adjunct professor of communication arts and adviser of the California Baptist University student newspaper, accepted the award on behalf of Lopez.

"The President's Award for Excellence in Student Journalism is given to a student who has shown sustained excellence in scholastic journalism," Chapman told a crowd of 200 student journalists and guests in the Neely Dining Hall. "Consuelo Lopez has met that criteria."

Lopez, from Rialto, Calif., is expected to graduate with a degree in communications in 2003. Lopez earlier served as features editor of the student paper and is a writer for The Angelos, CBU's yearbook.

She also has written for Hispanic Lifestyle Magazine and interned at The Los Angeles Times and Riverside (Calif.) Press-Enterprise. She has been awarded scholarships by the California Chicano News Media Association, California Newspaper Publisher's Association, Evangelical Press Association and Society of Professional Journalists.

"I want my writing to be defined by an understanding of the plight of the common man and to provide moving and insightful portraits that capture humanity in its finest hour and glorify God," Lopez wrote in her President's Award essay.

"To win the President's Award for Student Journalism will not be merely an award, but a celebration of all that the Lord has done in my life," Lopez wrote.

"Journalism is about more than accolades or prestige," she wrote. "Behind the headline of every article I write is a desire to glorify God and it is God himself who has the byline on the story of my life. All of my successes are a testament to that fact through God, all things are possible."

The banquet featured a keynote address by former ABC News religion reporter Peggy Wehmeyer, dinner music by the Chris Gregg jazz trio and the presentation of more than 100 awards for excellence in student journalism.

Chapman encouraged the student journalists to consider careers in media where they "can make a difference."

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